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enES Setif 1 Al Merreikh 1: Sudanese deny title-holders at homeAl Merreikh denied CAF Champions League title-holders ES Setif victory at home to stay on track for a semi-final berth.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/es-setif-1-al-merreikh-1-sudanese-deny-title-holders-home
Reigning champions ES Setif's stuttering start to their defence of the CAF Champions League continued on Saturday as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home.
Solomon Jabason's first-half header saw Sudan's Al Merreikh peg Setif back in Algeria after Abdelmalek Ziaya had put the hosts in front.
The draw saw Al Merreikh (four points, +1 goal difference) hold onto second spot in Group B on goal difference, with Setif (four points, +0) in third.
USM Alger (9, +3) lead Group B, with MC El Eulma bottom of the standings without a point.
Ziaya struck in the 16th minute with a sharp finish from Fares Hachi's centring pass but Merreikh were level just six minutes later, with Jabason picking out the top corner of the net when left unmarked from Francis Coffie's dead-ball.news_articleSat, 25 Jul 2015 23:07:54 +0000Anonymous423582 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMC El Eulma 0 ES Setif 1: Reigning champions leave it lateA goal in second-half stoppage time saw ES Setif defeat MC El Eulma in the CAF Champions League.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/mc-el-eulma-0-es-setif-1-reigning-champions-leave-it-late
Title-holders ES Setif left it very late on Saturday to register their first win of the 2015 CAF Champions League with striker Abdelmalek Ziaya securing a 1-0 victory.
Away to fellow Algerian club MC El Eulma in their second match in Group B, Setif took a late corner short and the eventual cross appeared to bounce off Ziaya and then evade the home side's goalkeeper before the ball nestled in the net.
It was Ziaya's first goal since Setif's CAF Super Cup win over Al Ahly in February.
The 93rd-minute winner sparked massive celebrations both on and off the pitch for Setif players and fans, as they joined Sudanese club Al Merreikh on three points.
Another Algerian club - USM Alger - lead Group B with six points, with Merreikh (3, +1 goal difference) and Setif (3, +0) sitting second and third, respectively.
El Eulma are bottom of the group with two defeats to their name.news_articleSun, 12 Jul 2015 01:25:51 +0000Anonymous416738 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comES Setif 1 USM Alger 2: African champions beatenES Setif's CAF Champions League defence began poorly, with domestic rivals USM Alger winning away 2-1.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/es-setif-1-usm-alger-2-african-champions-beaten
Defending CAF Champions League winners ES Setif were beaten by fellow Algerian outfit USM Alger 2-1 in Setif on Saturday.
USM Alger - who won the 2013-14 domestic title - began Group B in fine style, with second-half goals to Mohamed Seguer and Nacereddine Khoualed giving them all three points at the Stade du 8 Mai 1945.
Substitute Ilyes Korbiaa pulled a goal back with six minutes to play for ES Setif, but Kheireddine Madoui's men could not produce an equaliser as their title defence started with a loss.
The fixture represented the first competitive contest for both sides since their respective domestic campaigns finished in late May, when ES Setif were crowned champions of Algeria and USM Alger's league defence ended with a mid-table finish.news_articleSun, 28 Jun 2015 00:16:14 +0000Anonymous409967 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSetif drawn in Algeria-heavy Champions League groupDefending champions ES Setif have been paired with two fellow Algerian sides in Group B of the CAF Champions League.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/setif-drawn-algeria-heavy-champions-league-group
CAF Champions League holders ES Setif will face familiar opposition in the form of fellow Algerian teams USM Alger and MC El Eulma following Tuesday's draw for the 2015 group stage.
The two-time winners will also take on ES Tunis' conquerors Al Merreikh in Group B of the knockout stages.
The Sudanese side will compete in the competition's group stage for the first time since 2009.
In Group A, Smouha's reward for knocking out 2012 Confederation Cup champions AC Leopards is a berth alongside four-time African champions TP Mazembe.
Al Hilal will represent Sudan in the pool while Moroccan outfit Moghreb Tetouan will compete in their first Champions League group stage.
Group A: Smouha, Moghreb Tetouan, TP Mazembe, Al Hilal
Group B: ES Setif, USM Alger, Al Merrikh, MC El Eulmanews_articleTue, 05 May 2015 10:32:01 +0000Anonymous384573 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comES Setif 2 Raja Casablanca 2 (4-4 agg, 4-1 pens): Shootout sends holders throughES Setif will fight to defend their CAF Champions League crown in the group stage, but needed penalties to beat Raja Casablanca.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/es-setif-2-raja-casablanca-2-4-4-agg-4-1-pens-shootout-sends-holders-through
CAF Champions League holders ES Setif needed a penalty shootout to reach the group stage after surrendering a two-goal lead in their 2-2 draw with Raja Casablanca on Friday.
The Algerian side left Morocco with a 2-2 draw two weeks ago and appeared to be cruising to the group phase after going 2-0 up in Setif, but they were forced to do things the hard way in the end.
El-Hedi Belameiri put the hosts ahead with his ninth-minute tap-in and Setif had seemingly secured their passage just after the break, Mourad Delhoum finding the net.
But the home side grew complacent and Casablanca clawed their way back into the contest thanks to Abdelilah Hafidi's 58th-minute overhead kick, before Adil Karrouchy's last-gasp spot-kick forced a shootout.
The away side's admirable fightback ultimately came to nothing, however, as penalty misses from Christian Osaguona and Hafidi proved costly, allowing Setif to win 4-1.news_articleFri, 01 May 2015 19:42:59 +0000Anonymous383087 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCAF Champions League Wrap: Setif secure drawCAF Champions League holders ES Setif have given their group-stage qualification chances a boost with two away goals in their 2-2 draw at Raja Casablanca.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/caf-champions-league-review-setif-get-two-away-goals-al-ahly-denied-late
In what was billed as the biggest match of the round between the reigning champions and three-time winners Raja, the Moroccans were forced to come behind twice in front of their own fans.
Mohamed Benyettou scored both goals for the Algerians, with Yassine Salhi and then Adil Karrouchy keeping the tie alive for Jose Romao's men ahead of the return leg on April 30.
The two other Algerian clubs in action on Sunday, USM Alger and Eulma, both came out victorious.
Sfaxien, under the guidance of new coach Paulo Duarte for the first time in continental competition, were Eulma's visitors and ultimately left trailing 1-0, while reigning domestic champions USM Alger beat Kaloum Star 2-1, though they may come to regret conceding an away goal.
Al-Hilal Omdurman of Sudan picked up arguably the result of the day, claiming a 1-0 triumph at Sanga Balende, taking a huge stride towards progression.
In an otherwise unremarkable encounter, record eight-time champions Al Ahly lost 1-0 to a late Mohsen Yajour screamer against Moghreb Tetouan, while their Egyptian compatriots and debutants Smouha lost by the same scoreline in Congo to Leopards de Dolisie.
news_articleSun, 19 Apr 2015 22:05:38 +0000Anonymous377761 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCAF Champions League Wrap: Setif ease throughFridays 2-0 win over Real Banjul helped holders ES Setif into the second round of the CAF Champions League, with Toufik Zerrara and FaridMellouli on target.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/caf-champions-league-review-holders-setif-ease-last-16
The Algerian side were held 1-1 in the first leg inBrikama, but goals in either half helped avoid an upset with Zerrara's lofted cross finding its way into the net after 19 minutes.
Having failed to extend their advantage before the interval, captain Mellouli put the tie to bedearly in the second half.
In Friday's other clash, AS Pikine failed to turn around their 5-1 deficit from the first leg as they were eliminated by USM Alger following a 1-1 draw in the return meeting.
After Aliou Sowgave the hosts slim hope at theStade Demba Diop, Hamza Koudri drew Alger leveland ensured a theirprogression to the last 16.
news_articleFri, 03 Apr 2015 20:27:49 +0000Anonymous370484 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCAF Champions League Wrap: Holders Setif heldCAF Champions League holders ES Setif came from behind to start the defence of their titlewith a 1-1 draw at Real Banjul in the round of 32 first leg contest.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/caf-champions-league-review-holders-setif-held-al-ahly-command
Algerian side Setif travelled to Gambia for Saturday's contest at the Banjul Mini-Stadium following a turbulent week that saw goalkeeperSofiane Khedairia suspended by the club until the end of the season.
The uncertainty appeared to be replicated on the pitch as Modou Jallow put the hosts into a 57th-minute lead.
Setif ensured that they would return home for the second leg on April 2with a draw, though, whenMohamed Bouchar levelled proceedings in the 72nd minute.
AlAhly, the record eight-time winners, put one foot in the next round as the Egyptian champions were 2-0 victors at APR -Emad Moteab's double downing the Rwandan side.
There were differing fortunes for South African sides Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns, the former were beaten 1-0 at home by Raja Casablanca, but the latter won by the same scoreline at home to TP Mazembe.
The matches between Cotonsport and Sanga Balende, and Eulma versus Asante Kotoko ended in 0-0 stalemates, while Kaloum Star earned a 1-1 draw at Zesco.
Stade Malien Bamako will take a 3-1 lead back to Mali in their tie against Mangasport, while Al-Merreikh were 2-0 victors at home to Kabuscorp.
news_articleSat, 14 Mar 2015 21:19:10 +0000Anonymous360635 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCAF Champions League: ES Setif target progressES Setif and Raja Casablanca continue their bids to reach the CAF Champions League group stages as they prepare for first round ties.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/caf-champions-league-preview-es-setif-target-progress
Reigning champions Setif, of Algeria, take on Gambian league champions Real de Banjul in what is the round of 32.
Setif sit second in the league, while Real have made an unbeaten start to their league campaign through nine matches.
The 2014 triumph was just Setif's second Champions League crown, having previously won it in 1988.
Raja Casablanca are three-time champions and they take on South Africa's Kaizer Chiefs.
Elsewhere, Zambia's ZESCO United take on Guinea's AS Kaloum, while USM Alger face Senegal's AS Pikine.
Malawi's Big Bullets do battle with Al Hilal, Coton Sport meet SM Sanga Balende and Esperance de Tunis face Cosmos de Bafia.
Sudan's Al Merrikh have a tie against Kabuscorp and AC Semassi take on Tunisians CS Sfaxien.
Asante Kotoko meet MC El Eulma, Enyimba face Smouha, AC Leopards will look to get past Gor Mahia and APR take on Al Ahly.
Moroccan league champions Moghreb Tetouan do battle with Kano Pillars, and Mamelodi Sundowns meet TP Mazembe.
AS Mangasport and Stade Malien also clash.
news_articleTue, 10 Mar 2015 04:33:44 +0000Anonymous358155 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comSetif break new ground with CAF Super Cup winES Setif became the first Algerian team to win the CAF Super Cup after a penalty shootout victory over Al Ahly in Blida on Saturday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/setif-break-new-ground-caf-super-cup-win
After the sides remained level at 1-1 following normal-time, it was the Algerian side who claimed the title against the CAF Confederation Cup champions.
Abdelmalek Ziaya looked to have registered the winning goal for Setif when he opened the scoring 20 minutes from time.
However, Emad Moteab levelled matters deep into second-half stoppage time to take the showpiece to a penalty shootout.
Full-back Bassem Ali proved to be the fall guy for the Egyptian champions as he missed the crucial penalty to hand the title to Setif, who become the first team from Algeria to lift the Super Cup.
news_articleSat, 21 Feb 2015 19:09:45 +0000Anonymous348333 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comToure retains African Footballer of Year gongManchester City and Ivory Coast midfielder Yaya Toure has been named African Footballer of the Year for a fourth consecutive year.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/toure-retains-african-footballer-year-gong
The 31-year-old beat off competition from Gabon forwardPierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to retain the award and become the first man to claim the continental prize - awarded by the Confederation of African Football -on four successive occasions.
Toure had previously been tied withSamuel Eto'o, who was African Footballer of the Year between2003 and 2005.
Abedi Pele of Ghana wonFrance Football'sAfrican Player of the Year gong in three successive years from 1991, but Toure has now surpassed both men in terms of consecutive triumphs and joins Eto'o as a four-time winner.
In 2014, Toure represented his country at the FIFA World Cup and helped Manchester City to a second Premier League crown, scoring 20 goals in the title-winning campaign, as well as theLeague Cup.
His latest honour was announcedat the2014 CAFAwards Gala in Lagos, Nigeria.
Porto's Yacine Brahimi, 24, pippedCameroonian duoVincent Aboubakar - histeam-mate at club level - andClinton N'jie to the Most Promising Talent award.
Brahimi played a starring role at the World Cup for Algeria as the north African nation impressed in Brazil.
Algeria claimed the National Team of the Year gong, while Kheireddine Madoui, the coach ofCAF Champions League winners ES Setif, was named Coach of the Year.
news_articleThu, 08 Jan 2015 22:28:44 +0000Anonymous320273 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comHolders ES Setif learn Champions League fateES Setif will begin their CAF Champions League title defence against either Real de Banjul or Barrack Young Controllers.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/holders-es-setif-learn-champions-league-fate
The Algerian side won the 2014 tournament in November, beating AS Vita Club on the away goals rule afterthe teams finished 3-3 on aggregate over two legs.
ES Setif are one of seven sides who have been handed byes from the preliminary stages.
Egyptian outfitAl Ahly -who have won a record eight Champions League crowns -Tunisian duo CS Sfaxien and Esperance, Cameroonian team Coton Sport, AC Leopards of Congo and TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo are also exempt from the preliminary round.
Ghanaian champions Asante Kotoko - who are two-time winnersof the tournament - open their account against East End Lions of Sierra Leone.
Two other former holders, Enyimba of Nigeria and Raja Casablanca of Morocco, take on Buffles duBorgou of Benin and Diables Noirs of Congo respectively.
Gor Mahia, the reigning Kenyan champions, start against Madagascar.
The preliminary round of the tournament begins between February 13 and 15, with the return legs of those ties set to be played a fortnight later.
news_articleMon, 22 Dec 2014 14:51:38 +0000Anonymous309824 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comES Setif coach Madoui hails second half displayES Setif coach Kheireddine Madoui hailed his sides second-half performance after beating Western Sydney Wanderers on penalties.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/madoui-hails-second-half-display
The CAF Champions League winners won 5-4 in the shootout after the teams were tied at 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes.
And Madoui, whose side suffered a shock defeat to Auckland City in the previous round, was proud of his players' resolve.
"Today you could see that my team performed differently to the way they did in the quarter-final," he said. "Sydney are a good side but we were determined and well-prepared psychologically.
"We made a few mistakes in the first half but after the break we created several chances.
"My players were absolutely determined to win this watch and I'd like to congratulate them because they deserved the victory."
Western Sydney moved into a 1-0 lead courtesy of Romeo Castelen's fifth-minute strike, before a Daniel Mullen own goal and an Abdelmalek Ziaya effort turned the match on its head.
Vitor Saba forced the match to penalty shootout by scoring two minutes from time, but it was Setif who came out on top, with Toufik Zerara scoring the decisive penalty.
"We played well," remarked Wanderers coach Tony Popovic."We made a few changes and gave a lot of young players the chance to play and they made the most of it.
"Penalty shootouts always come down to luck. We were by far the better team in the first half but were unable to score more goals.
"In the second half we allowed our opponents back into the game by making a few defensive mistakes.
"The result is disappointing but we played good football and can take a lot of positives home with us."
news_articleWed, 17 Dec 2014 22:15:19 +0000Anonymous306910 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFIFA Club World Cup: ES Setif 2 Western Sydney 2 (pens 5-4)ES Setif had to rely on a 5-4 penalty victory over Western Sydney Wanderers to seal fifth place at the Club World Cup.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/es-setif-2-western-sydney-wanderers-2-5-4-pens-algerians-rely-penalties-finish-fifth
Vitor Saba's 88th-minutestrike levelled the scores at 2-2 to take the match to a shootout, where the Algerians held their nerve to prevail,Toufik Zerara convertingthe decisive effort.
CAF Champions League winners Setifsuffered an early setback when Romeo Castelen opened the scoring in the fifth minute, before Western Sydney hit the woodwork twice.
However, Setif were in control after making a bright start to the second half in Marrakech.
Daniel Mullen inadvertently restored parity when he sent the ball beyond his own goalkeeper in the 50th minute, before Abdelmalek Ziaya put the Africanside in front seven minutes later.
The result means Western Sydney have failed to record a victoryin any competition other than the AFC Champions League - which they won – so far this season, while Setif end their disappointing tournament with the consolation of finishing fifth.
Setif made five changes following their shock defeat at the hands of tournament surprise package Auckland City on Saturday, while Western Sydney – without captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley after he was sent off in a case of mistaken identity against Cruz Azul– made seven alterations.
Nevertheless, it was the Australians who struck the early blow – Castelen rifling home from 20 yards after being teed up by Labinot Haliti in the fifth minute.
Western Sydney should have been two up 12 minutes later when Haliti headed against the crossbar from a corner, before Mullen sent the ball against the left-hand post from the rebound.
Haliti continued to prove a thorn in the side of the Setif defence, firing over from a Seyi Adeleke cross, but Akram Djahnit narrowly cleared the crossbar with an acrobatic effort at the other end soon after as the Algerians chased a leveller.
And Setif were back on terms five minutes into the second half – Mullen knocking the ball into his own net as he failed to deal with a dangerous cross from the right wing.
Ziaya headed over as Setif looked to build on their momentum, and Sid Ali Lamri had Dean Bouzanis at full stretch with a powerful strike.
It was not long before Setif had their second, however, with Ziaya lifting over Bouzanis after controlling a 57th-minute Ahmed Gasmi cross in the centre of the penalty area.
Amine Megateli made a vital interception when Kearyn Baccus played a dangerous low ball across the six-yard box on the hour mark, before goalscorer Ziaya tested Bouzanis with a powerful free-kick from distance.
Just as victory looked a sure thing for Setif, a Saba strike caught a hand on the edge of the area a minute from time, before the Brazilian found the net from the resulting free-kick.
A drawn-out penalty shoot-out ensued, which saw both Mullen and Ziaya miss their respective efforts, but Zerara found the target with Setif's eighth spot-kick to seal the win.
news_articleWed, 17 Dec 2014 18:55:49 +0000Anonymous306830 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comFIFA Club World Cup: ES Setif v Western SydneyWestern Sydney Wanderers will be without suspended captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley for Wednesdays fifth-place play-off against ES Setif.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/es-setif-v-western-sydney-wanderers-topor-stanley-miss-fifth-place-play
FIFA rejected the Wanderers' appeal after Topor-Stanley was incorrectlysent off during Saturday's 3-1 loss to Cruz Azul in the Club World Cup quarter-final in Rabat.
The Wanderers appealed the first caution by referee Noumandiez Doue, who handed Topor-Stanley a yellow card in a case of mistaken identity after Matthew Spiranovic and Seyi Adeleke were the ones at fault for fouling Cruz Azul striker Hugo Pavone.
The appeal was thrown out by FIFA, who claimed Topor-Stanley tried to deceive the referee.
The Australian side - winners of the AFC Asian Champions League - will now be without their influential skipper against the African champions in Marrakech, much to the disappointment of coach Tony Popovic.
"FIFA won't change their decision - we appealed, after seeing the video, knowing it wasn't him, but there's nothing from our point of view we can do now," said Popovic, who will also be without Spiranovic after the Australia international defender was also sent off.
"Nikolai can't play, which is unfortunate. The actual challenge he makes [to earn a second yellow card and hence be dismissed], close to halfway, he makes knowing he can get a yellow if he mistimes it, which in those conditions can happen. He wasn't concerned about that, because he didn't think he had a yellow already.
"So there was confusion throughout, and unfortunately we got the raw end of it. But as a coach, I've moved on from that - after the game I said what I felt.
"We're still at this great tournament, here for a reason as the champions of Asia, and now we have a very difficult game to play."
The match will serve as a chance of redemption for both teams after ES Setif were bundled out by New Zealand amateurs Auckland City 1-0 on Saturday.
ES Setif - the fifth African country to be represented at the Club World Cup - were expected to ease past Auckland but Kheireddine Madoui's men were instead eliminated in Rabat.
"I hope we get a positive result. In any case, the experience we will have gained through these matches at the Club World Cup is invaluable," said Madoui.
news_articleTue, 16 Dec 2014 05:47:09 +0000Anonymous306022 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com